Fast battery charging system and method

Abstract

In an exemplary fast charging system, a hand-held computerized terminal with rechargeable batteries therein may be bodily inserted into a charger receptacle. The terminal may have volatile memory and other components requiring load current during charging.. The system may automatically identify battery type and progressively increase charging current while monitoring for an increase in battery terminal voltage to ascertain the level of load current. The battery temperature may be brought into a relationship to surrounding temperature such that by applying a suitable overcharge current value and observing any resultant temperature increase, the level of remaining battery charge can be determined. For example, if the battery is found to be relatively fully discharged, a relatively high fast-charge rate may be safely applied while monitoring battery temperature. If the battery is initially relatively fully charged or reaches such a state during fast charge, the system may automatically dynamically select a maintenance charge rate according to battery type and temperature. A preferred system may automatically recharge the batteries of a portable device according to an optimum schedule of essentially maximum safe charging rates as a function of battery temperature, and thereafter safely maintain the batteries at essentially fully charged condition in readiness for maximum duration portable operation.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A battery monitoring and charging control system comprising: a battery;   a first processor for generating battery information using at least one measured battery parameter; and   a second processor for receiving the battery information, the second processor using the battery information for generating control signals for controlling charging of the battery.   
     
     
       2. The battery monitoring and charging control system of claim 1 further comprising a two-way communication link between the first and second processors. 
     
     
       3. The battery monitoring and charging control system of claim 2 wherein the battery information is communicated to the second processor via the two-way communication link. 
     
     
       4. The battery monitoring and charging control system of claim 1 further comprising circuitry responsive to the control signals for charging the battery. 
     
     
       5. The battery monitoring and charging control system of claim 1 further comprising circuitry for measuring the at least one battery parameter. 
     
     
       6. The battery monitoring and charging control system of claim 1 wherein the battery information is stored in memory. 
     
     
       7. The battery monitoring and charging control system of claim 1 wherein the second processor stores in memory a measured value of capacity of the battery. 
     
     
       8. The battery monitoring and charging control system of claim 1 wherein the first processor is located in a battery pack. 
     
     
       9. The battery monitoring and charging control system of claim 8 wherein the second processor is located externally of the battery pack. 
     
     
       10. The battery monitoring and charging control system of claim 1 wherein the second processor uses the battery information to control discharge of the battery. 
     
     
       11. The battery monitoring and charging control system of claim 1 wherein the first processor is located in a portable utilization device. 
     
     
       12. A battery monitoring and charging control system comprising: a battery;   first circuitry for measuring at least one battery parameter;   a first processor for generating battery information using the at least one battery parameter;   a second processor for receiving the battery information and for generating a charging control signal using the battery information; and   second circuitry responsive to the charging control signal for charging the battery.   
     
     
       13. The battery monitoring and charging control system of claim 12 further comprising a two-way communication link between the first and second processors. 
     
     
       14. The battery monitoring and charging control system of claim 12 wherein the battery information is communicated to the second processor via the two-way communication link. 
     
     
       15. The battery monitoring and charging control system of claim 12 wherein the battery information is stored in memory. 
     
     
       16. The battery monitoring and charging control system of claim 12 wherein the battery information is communicated from the memory to the second processor. 
     
     
       17. The battery monitoring and charging control system of claim 12 wherein the first processor is located in a battery pack. 
     
     
       18. The battery monitoring and charging control system of claim 17 wherein the second processor is located externally of the battery pack. 
     
     
       19. The battery monitoring and charging control system of claim 12 wherein the first processor is located in a portable utilization device. 
     
     
       20. A method of monitoring and charging a battery in a battery system comprising: measuring at least one battery parameter;   generating by a first processor battery information using at least one battery parameter;   communicating the battery information to a second processor;   generating by the second processor a control signal using the battery information; and   charging the battery based on the control signal.   
     
     
       21. The method of claim 20 further comprising storing the battery information in memory.